Pesticidal tetrazole derivatives

ABSTRACT

Tetrazole derivatives of the formula wherein R is a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group, heterocyclic group, or benzo-fused heterocyclic group, 
     which exhibit activity as insecticides and acaricides.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to pesticidal tetrazole derivatives. More particularly, this invention relates to tetrazole derivatives which exhibit activity as insecticides and as miticides. This invention also relates to insecticidal and miticidal compositions comprising the tetrazole derivatives, and to methods of controlling insects and acarids using such compounds or compositions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Destruction of crops by insects and acarids presents a serious problem to agriculture. A wide variety of field crops are in need of protection from acarids and insects. Particularly difficult types of acarids and insects to control are those which, at one or more stages of their life, inhabit the soil and cause destruction to the roots of plants. Accordingly, the development of insecticides and miticides which are effective as ovicides, larvicides, and adulticides is desirable.

Moody et al, J. Chem. Soc. Perkin Trans. 1: 329-333 (1991), describe 5-phenyl-1-(2-chloroethyl)-1H-tetrazole as an intermediate in the preparation of 2-alkenyl-5-phenyltetrazoles.

It is a purpose of this invention to provide novel tetrazole derivatives useful as insecticides and miticides.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a tetrazole compound of the formula ##STR1## wherein R is phenyl, a C₄ -C₅ heterocyclic group comprising one nitrogen, sulfur, or oxygen atom, or a benzo-fused C₄ -C₅ heterocyclic group comprising one nitrogen, sulfur, or oxygen atom, wherein the phenyl, heterocyclic group, or benzo-fused heterocyclic group is unsubstituted or mono-, di-, or tri-substituted with halogen atoms, C₁ -C₄ alkyl groups, C₁ -C₄ alkoxy groups, or C₁ -C₄ haloalkyl groups. The compounds of this invention are useful as plant protecting agents for the control of mites and insect pests.

The present invention also relates to a pesticidal composition comprising: a) an effective amount of a compound of formula I; and b) a suitable carrier.

The present invention further relates to a method for controlling insects or acarids which comprises applying an effective amount of the compound of formula I to the locus to be protected.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Preferably, the heterocyclic group of R is an aromatic heterocyclic group, more preferably, a thienyl, furanyl, or pyridinyl group.

R is preferably phenyl, thienyl, furanyl, pyridinyl, benzothienyl, or benzofuranyl, optionally mono-, di- or tri-substituted by bromo or chloro atoms, more preferably, one bromo or one chloro, or by C₁ -C₄ alkyl, more preferably, one methyl or one t-butyl, or by C₁ -C₄ trihaloalkyl, more preferably, one trihalomethyl or one trihaloethyl. Particularly preferred is the tetrazole compound of formula I wherein R is phenyl, thienyl, pyridinyl, or benzothienyl, substituted by bromo, chloro, methyl, t-butyl or trifluoromethyl.

The compounds of the present invention can be prepared by reacting a tetrazole of the formula A below, wherein R is as described above, with bromofluoroethane and a base such as potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, potassium carbonate or sodium carbonate. ##STR2## The tetrazoles of the formula A are known and can be obtained commercially, e.g., from Lancaster Synthesis Inc, Windham, N.H. and Ryan Scientific, Inc., Isle of Palms, S.C.

The present invention further relates to a pesticidal composition comprising a) an effective amount of a tetrazole derivative of formula I; and (b) a suitable carrier. Such suitable carriers may be solid or liquid in nature.

The compositions of the present invention can be prepared by formulating one or more compounds of the present invention with a suitable carrier.

Suitable liquid carriers can comprise water, alcohols, ketones, phenols, toluene and xylenes. In such formulations, additives conventionally employed in the art can be utilized, such as one or more surface active agents and/or inert diluents, to facilitate handling and application of the resulting insecticidal composition.

Alternatively, the compounds of this invention can be applied as a liquid or in sprays when utilized in a liquid carrier, such as a solution comprising a compatible solvent such as acetone, benzene, toluene or kerosene, or a dispersion comprising a suitable non-solvent medium such as water.

The compositions of this invention can alternatively comprise solid carriers taking the form of dusts, granules, wettable powders, pastes, aerosols, emulsions, emulsifiable concentrates, and water-soluble solids. For example, the compounds of this invention can be applied as dusts when admixed with or absorbed onto powdered solid carriers, such as mineral silicates, talc, pyrophyllite and clays, together with a surface-active dispersing agent so that a wettable powder is obtained which then is applied directly to the loci to be treated. Alternatively, the powdered solid carrier containing the compound admixed therewith, can be dispersed in water to form a suspension for application in such form.

Granular formulations of the compounds are preferred for field treatment and are suitable for application by broadcasting, side dressing, soil incorporation or seed treatment, and are suitably prepared using a granular or pelletized form of carrier such as granular clays, vermiculite, charcoal or corn cobs. The compound of this invention can be dissolved in a solvent and sprayed onto an inert mineral carrier such as attapulgite granules (10-100 mesh), and the solvent is then evaporated. Such granular compositions can contain from 2-25% of a compound of this invention, based on carrier plus compound, preferably, 3-15%. In addition, the compounds of this invention can also be incorporated into a polymeric carrier such as polyethylene, polypropylene, butadiene-styrene, styrene-acryonitrile resins, polyamides, poly(vinyl acetates), and the like. When encapsulated, the compound of this invention can advantageously be released over an even longer time period, extending its effectiveness further than when used in non-encapsulated form.

Another method of applying the compound of this invention to the loci to be treated is by aerosol treatment, for which the compound can be dissolved in an aerosol carrier which is a liquid under pressure but which is a gas at ordinary temperature (e.g., 20° C.) and atmospheric pressure. Aerosol formulations can also be prepared by first dissolving the compound in a less volatile solvent and then admixing the resulting solution with a highly volatile liquid aerosol carrier.

For treatment of plants (such term including plant parts), the compounds of the invention preferably are applied in aqueous emulsions containing a surface-active dispersing agent which can be non-ionic, cationic or anionic. Suitable surface-active agents are well known in the art, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,547,724 (columns 3 and 4). The compounds of this invention can be mixed with such surface-active dispersing agents, with or without an organic solvent, as concentrates for the subsequent addition of water, to yield aqueous suspensions of the compounds at desired concentration levels.

In addition, the compounds can be employed with carriers which themselves are pesticidally active, such as insecticides, acaricides, fungicides or bactericides.

It will be understood that the effective amount of a compound in a given formulation will vary depending, e.g., upon the specific pest to be combated, as well as upon the specific chemical composition and formulation of the compound being employed, the method of applying the compound/formulation and the locus of treatment. Generally, however, the effective amount of the compound of this invention can range from about 0.1 to about 95 percent by weight. Spray dilutions can be as low as a few parts per million, while at the opposite extreme, full strength concentrates of the compound can be usefully applied by ultra low volume techniques. When plants constitute the loci of treatment, concentration per unit area can range between about 0.01 and about 50 pounds per acre, with concentrations of between about 0.1 and about 10 pounds per acre preferably being employed for crops such as corn, tobacco, rice and the like.

To combat insects and mites, sprays of the compounds can be applied to any suitable locus, such as to the insects or mites directly and/or to plants upon which they feed or nest. The compositions of this invention can also be applied to the soil or other medium in which the pests are present.

The specific methods of application of the compounds and compositions of this invention, as well as the selection and concentration of these compounds, will vary depending upon such circumstances as crops to be protected, geographic area, climate, topography, plant tolerance, etc.

The compounds of the invention are particularly useful as insecticides and acaricides, for foliar and/or soil application. The compounds are particularly effective for controlling insects, such as corn rootworm, which live in the soil during one or more phases of their lives, by means of soil application.

The following examples are provided to illustrate the present invention.

EXAMPLES Example 1

Preparation of 5-(2,3-dichlorophenyl)-2-(2-fluoroethyl)-1H-tetrazole (Compound No. 1)

To 100 mL of acetonitrile was added 5 g of 5-(2,3-dichlorophenyl)-1H-tetrazole (Lancester Synthesis Inc., Windham, N.H.) followed by 2.5 g of potassium carbonate. After stirring for 15 min, 5 g of 1-bromo-2-fluoroethane was added dropwise. After the addition, the resulting mixture was then heated to reflux for 3 hours and then filtered. The solvent was then evaporated under reduced pressure leaving 4 g of 5-(2,3-dichlorophenyl)-2-(2-fluoroethyl)-1H-tetrazole as an oil.

Compounds 2-12 in Table 1 below were prepared using the same process as described in Example 1 except for a different starting tetrazole. Comparative Compound A was prepared in a similar manner using 1-bromo-2-chloroethane instead of 1-bromo-2-fluoroethane. Each of the compounds so formed is characterized by its NMR data.

                  TABLE 1                                                          ______________________________________                                          ##STR3##                                                                      No.    R            X      NMR Data (PPM) IN CDCL.sub.3                        ______________________________________                                          1     2,3-Cl.sub.2 C.sub.6 H.sub.3                                                                F      m(4)4.5-5.4; m(3)7.5-8.2                             2     4-(CH.sub.3).sub.3 CC.sub.6 H.sub.4                                                         F      s(9)1.3, m(4)4.5-5.4;                                                          m(4)7.3-8.1                                          3     4-CF.sub.3 C.sub.6 H.sub.4                                                                  F      m(4)4.5-5.4, m(4)7.7-8.2                             4     2-C.sub.4 H.sub.3 S                                                                         F      m(4)4.5-5.4; m(3)6.9-7.7                             5     C.sub.6 H.sub.5                                                                             F      m(4)4.5-5.3; m(5)7.3-8.0                             6     3-CF.sub.3 C.sub.6 H.sub.4                                                                  F      m(4)4.5-5.4; m(4)7.7-8.2                             7     3-C.sub.5 H.sub.4 N                                                                         F      m(4)4.5-5.4, m(4)7.4-9.2                             8     2-BrC.sub.6 H.sub.4                                                                         F      m(4)4.5-5.4; m(4)7.3-7.9                             9     4-C.sub.5 H.sub.4 N                                                                         F      m(4)4.5-5.4; m(4)7.8-8.8                            10     3-CH.sub.3 -2-C.sub.8 H.sub.4 S                                                             F      s(3)2.8; m(4)4.5-5.4;                                                          m(4)7.3-8.0                                         11     2-ClC.sub.6 H.sub.4                                                                         F      m(4)4.5-5.5; m(4)7.3-8.1                            12     3-ClC.sub.6 H.sub.4                                                                         F      m(4)4.5-5.5; m(4)7.5-8.2                            A      C.sub.6 H.sub.5                                                                             Cl     t(2)4.0; t(2)4.8;                                                              m(5)7.3-8.2                                         ______________________________________                                    

Example 2

Stock Solution Preparation

The remaining examples relate to the insecticidal and miticidal use of the compounds of this invention. In all these examples, a stock solution for the compounds was prepared at 3000 ppm by dissolving 0.24 gram of each compound to be tested in 8 ml of acetone and adding 72 ml of distilled water plus 3 drops of ethoxylated sorbitan monolaurate, a wetting agent. This stock solution was used in the remaining examples demonstrating the insecticidal use of representative compounds of this invention. For each example that follows, this stock solution was used and the specificized dilutions made. All the tests discussed below, which involved treatment with compounds of this invention were always repeated with controls, in which the active compound was not provided, to permit a comparison upon which the percent control was calculated.

Example 3

Southern Corn Rootworm Test

The stock solution of 3000 ppm prepared in Example 2 above, was diluted to 100 ppm (test solution). For each compound, 2.5 ml of the test solution was pipetted onto a filter paper (Whatman #3) at the bottom of a 100 mm petri dish. Two corn seedlings were soaked in the 100 ppm solution for 1 hour and transferred to the petri dish containing the same test solution. After 24 hours, each dish was loaded with 5 second instar larvae of Southern Corn Rootworm (Diabrotica undecimpunctata). After five days, the number of live larvae was noted and the percent control, corrected by Abbott's formula [see J. Economic Entomology 18: 265-267 (1925)] was calculated.

The results of the testing of Southern Corn Rootworm (CR) are presented in Table 2 below.

Example 4

Mite Adulticide and Mite Ovicide Tests

One day before treatment of cowpea primary leaves with the test solutions, a "FIG. 8" configuration of tree tanglefoot was applied to each of two cowpea primary leaves, one from each of two plants in a pot. In each figure, the circle nearer the stem was designated for the mite ovicide test and the circle further from the stem was designated for the mite adulticide test.

Groups of adult mites (Tetranychus urticae Koch) were transferred into ovicide circles one day before treatment and the females were allowed to deposit eggs until one hour before treatment, at which point all the adults were removed. The plants were then sprayed to run off with a 1000 ppm solution diluted from the 3000 ppm stock solution.

One day following treatment of the plants with the test solution, groups of approximately 25 adult mites were transferred into the adulticide rings. Five days later these rings were examined for live mites remaining on the leaves. The percent control was estimated based on the number of mites surviving on the control plants.

Nine days following treatment the ovicide rings were examined for unhatched eggs and living immature mites. The percent control was estimated based on the number of unhatched eggs.

Results of the mite adulticide (MI) and ovicide (MIOV) tests are presented below in Table 2.

Example 5

Rice Planthopper Foliar Test

The stock solution of 3000 ppm prepared in Example 2 above, was diluted to 1000 ppm. One pot containing approximately 20 Mars variety rice seedlings was treated with each formulation by spraying with a spray atomizer. One day after treatment plants were covered with a tubular cage and twenty adult rice delphacids, Sogatodes orizicola, were transferred into each cage. Five days after transferring, counts were made of the surviving planthoppers in each pot and percent control was estimated.

Results of the testing of rice planthoppers (RPH) are presented in Table 2 below.

Example 6

Tobacco Budworm Test

For each compound, 0.2 ml of the stock solution prepared in Example 2 above, was pipetted onto the surface of each of 5 diet cells, allowed to spread over the surfaces and air dried for two hours. Then a second instar Helicoverpa virescens larva was introduced into each cell. After 14 days, the number of living larvae was determined for each treatment and percent control, corrected by Abbott's formula, was calculated.

The results of the testing of tobacco budworms (TB) are presented in Table 2 below.

Example 7

Tobacco Budworm Ovicide Test

A solution of 1000 ppm was prepared by dissolving 0.015 g of the compound to be tested in 2 ml of acetone and adding 13 ml of distilled water plus 1 drop of ethoxylated sorbitan monolaurate. Cheesecloth on which budworms had oviposited eggs 1-2 days before treatment was cut into pieces, each containing 40-80 eggs. These pieces were immersed for 1 minute in the solution. After 5 days, the numbers of hatched and unhatched eggs were counted and an adjusted percent control determined.

The results of the Tobacco Budworm Ovicide Tests (TBOV) are given in Table 2.

                  TABLE 2                                                          ______________________________________                                         Pesticidal Activity                                                            Cmpd.  Percent Control                                                         No.    CR      MI      MIOV   RPH   TB    TBOV                                 ______________________________________                                         1      100     50      0      100   40    100                                  2      16      100     100    0     8     100                                  3      100     0       100    0     100   100                                  4      37      50      0      0     8     0                                    5      20      0       100    0     33    100                                  6      25      0       100    0     100   97                                   7      0       0       100    0     0     0                                    8      0       0       100    0     23    98                                   9      80      0       100    0     0     0                                    10     0       0       100    0     0     40                                   11     0       0       100    0     48    100                                  12     0       80      100    0     74    100                                  A      0       0       0      0     0     --                                   ______________________________________                                     

What is claimed is:
 1. A tetrazole compound of the formula ##STR4## wherein R is phenyl; a C₄ -C₅ heterocyclic group comprising one nitrogen, sulfur, or oxygen atom; or a benzo-fused C₄ -C₅ heterocyclic group comprising one nitrogen, sulfur, or oxygen atom, wherein the phenyl, C₄ -C₅ heterocyclic group, or benzo-fused C₄ -C₅ heterocyclic group is unsubstituted or mono-, di-, or tri-substituted with halogen atoms, C₁ -C₄ alkyl groups, C₁ -C₄ alkoxy groups, or C₁ -C₄ haloalkyl groups.
 2. A tetrazole compound as recited in claim 1 wherein the C₄ -C₅ heterocyclic moiety is an aromatic C₄ -C₅ heterocyclic moiety.
 3. A tetrazole compound as recited in claim 2 wherein the aromatic C₄ -C₅ heterocyclic moiety is thienyl, furanyl, or pyridinyl.
 4. A tetrazole compound as recited in claim 1 wherein R is phenyl, thienyl, furanyl, pyridinyl, benzothienyl, or benzofuranyl, optionally mono-, di- or tri-substituted by bromo or chloro atoms, or by C₁ -C₄ alkyl, or by C₁ -C₄ trihaloalkyl.
 5. A tetrazole compound as recited in claim 4 wherein R is phenyl, thienyl, furanyl, pyridinyl, benzothienyl, or benzofuranyl, optionally mono-substituted by one bromo or one chloro, or by one methyl or one t-butyl, or by one trihalomethyl or one trihaloethyl.
 6. A tetrazole compound as recited in claim 5 wherein R is phenyl, thienyl, pyridinyl, or benzothienyl, substituted by bromo, chloro, methyl, t-butyl or trifluoromethyl.
 7. A pesticidal composition comprising: a) an effective amount of a tetrazole compound as recited in claim 1; and b) a suitable carrier.
 8. A pesticidal composition comprising: a) an effective amount of a tetrazole compound as recited in claim 4; and b) a suitable carrier.
 9. A method for controlling insects which comprises applying an effective amount of a compound as recited in claim 1 to the locus to be protected.
 10. A method for controlling insects which comprises applying an effective amount of a compound as recited in claim 4 to the locus to be protected.
 11. A method for controlling acarids which comprises applying an effective amount of a compound as recited in claim 1 to the locus to be protected.
 12. A method for controlling acarids which comprises applying an effective amount of a compound as recited in claim 4 to the locus to be protected. 